Julia's Rants

Stop the MADNESS

2010-03-21T18:32:18Z

Okay now boys and girls...everyone repeat after me....

TIM WAKEFIELD SHOULD BE OUR 5th STARTER!!!

boston.com

You doubt me? In his outing yesterday against the Orioles, Timmy pitched 5 scoreless innings. He gave up only 2 hits and he walked only 2. Over the course of Spring Training he has a 3.29 ERA in 13 2/3 innings of work. His back is fine! His relationship with Victor Martinez has improved greatly. V-Mart has become comfortable catching the knuckleball - something he had never done until he arrived in Boston last season. What are Theo and Tito waiting for? Why hasn't Wakefield been named our 5th starter? Oh yea...him....

http://notinhd.files.wordpress.com

Okay - fine - he looked okay in the scrimmage game he threw today. He threw 32 pitches - 18 for strikes - and only one of the 8 batters that he faced got on base. John Farrell said he was pleased and that Dice-K did not show any signs of the sore neck and back that have been plaguing him. Dice-K, on the other hand, says he is being cautious as he throws. Sounds like he doesn't feel all that comfortable. It will be a least several weeks into April before Dice-K will be able to join the team as a starter.

http://www.bodymindsuccess.com

Anyone feeling confident that Dice-K's back/neck/left thumbnail is going to be healthy all season? I am not convinced. I am not sure that he is totally with the Red Sox program and I do not have a warm fuzzy feeling about him. I know, when he is good he is good - but I have real concerns about whether he will be "good" this season...

http://upload.wikimedia.org

Sorry all you Dice-K fans - while I have appreciated what he has done for us, I have never been sold on him. He is NOT the person I want on the plate in a clutch situation. GIVE ME WAKE!!! He has done EVERYTHING that the team has asked of him - and more! - without complaining. He has showed up everyday and has given the team 110%. He is completely "sold" on the Red Sox way of bringing pitchers along. HE WANTS TO BE HERE! And the man can pitch. I know he is older then Dice-K - but be honest - you want to see Wake on the mound also. You know you want to! So PLEASE Tito - get it over with and name Tim Wakefield our 5th starter! The man has earned that right and he will do the team proud. You won't be disappointed.

This one confuses me....

Guess who is back in the Red Sox clubhouse.....

The dude on the right - Alan Embree.

Perhaps you remember him. He was standing on the mound in 2004 for the last out of game 7 of the ALCS. (Oh I know my good friend Scott remembers him!) He was also sitting in the bullpen when a very tired Pedro was standing on the mound in 2003. The 40 year old pitcher signed a one year minor league deal with the Red Sox and he surprised his old teammates when he showed up at Spring Training yesterday. He also surprised Joe Nelson, Scott Atchison, and Brian Shouse - the guys who were already fighting for that last spot in the bullpen. Embree is a left-hander and the Red Sox might feel that they need that in their pen. Embree was with the Rockies last season as a reliever, but his season ended on July 10th when a batted ball came back and fractured his right tibia. Ouch! Will he be effective? I have no idea. The thought of him playing for us again is interesting - but I don't know if this is the direction we should be going in. Good luck to all the guys.

The Red Sox are never dull are they!

NO!!!

2010-03-20T00:22:13Z

boston.com

3 1/3 innings, 6 hits, 4 runs, 2 walks and 1 strike out. AGAINST THE PIRATES!!! (Nothing personal Pirates' fans!) We LOST to the Pirates - our 5th lose in a row. (Scott must be loving this!) Today's score? 9-7. sigh....

The game started great! Guess who hit a 2 run blast in the first?

boston.com

The Red Sox got 14 hits!! The Pirates got 13. 7 of our hits were for extra bases! They got 7 - 4 were HRs. We got two HRs. We left 16 runners on base! They left 17. They used 7 pitchers and we used 5. It was a wild, crazy and unsuccessful day....I can't say I'm overly worried - but really, there are only 15 days, 23 hours and 21 minutes left until Opening Day. But who's counting?? Really guys - it is time to get your acts together...time is running short.

Even less good news in Boston....

1 minute, 58 seconds and justice was served....

boston.com

6'2" enforcer Shawn Thornton let Matt Cooke of the Pittsburgh Penguins know the feelings of all of Boston - we do NOT like the cheap shot he took to Marc Savard the last time these two teams meet. Savard is out for the season. Cooke was not suspended. (But hey - file it under "better late then never" - the league is looking to ban blindside shots to the head!) But truthfully - I think justice would have been BETTER served if we had actually WON the game!! On a night that saw the stars from the 1970 Stanley Cup Championship team honored - Bobby Orr. Pie, Hodge to name just a few - the Bruins were as flat and lifeless as ever! Way to go guys.....perhaps you should have asked the old Bruins to play! They might not have lost 3-0! Hockey season is winding down - time to find yourselves boys!

And something to make you smile....

My Godmother died this week. She would have been 88 years old this year...she had lived a good life, but the last few years had not been kind. For we Irish, we call her passing a blessing. And my Aunt Ginny was a Red Sox fan - she loved her boys! No bandwagon fan here! She had a Red Sox World Series Champions Beanie Baby in her casket with her. Let this serve as a reminder to all of you who think that Red Sox fans are just "bandwagon" fans - there are many, MANY more of us who are life-long fans. Aunt Ginny was! She'll be missed - but she had the satisfaction of seeing her boys win the World Series twice!

Irish blessing on the dead

May they rest in the company of the saints,
and their sons and daughters with them.

--Irish blessing

Leaba imeasc na naomh go raibh acu
agus ag an chlann mac is iníon atá leo.

We've Heard THIS before.....

2010-03-16T23:15:36Z

http://www.unlockedsports.com

Our pitcher was good! Our hitters?

http://opiated.files.wordpress.com/

Why did they bother bringing their bats?? On Tuesday Pedey and Ells went a combined 0-6 against the Astros' pitching - striking out three times!! At least we had Jason Varitek! He had a double and a walk! Jon Lester worked his longest outing of the season - he gave up just one run on three hits in four innings. Too bad we couldn't score any runs! But that's okay - we played the Mets on Wednesday!

boston.com

John Lackey, wearing green in honor of St. Patty's day, was AWESOME!! He gave up only 2 hits over 4 innings. He struck out two and he walked no one! Nor did he allow any runs. The Red Sox did manage to get two runs - and they appeared to be going to win this one. And then the 8th inning arrived.....and so did Ramon S. Ramirez. (Not to be confused with Ramon A.) He gave up 4 runs on 2 hits and 3 walks, including a 3 run HR. Nice - our bullpen couldn't hold it together either! I know - it is ONLY Spring Training, but there are only 17 more days until Opening Day! The BP needs to be there to back up our starting pitchers and guys - WE NEED TO START HITTING!!

A couple of medical updates -

Red Sox prospect Ryan Westmoreland came through his five hour surgery to remove a cavernous malformation from his brain. He remained in intensive care after the surgery, and in the short-term he will face a very difficult initial recovery period. The news looks a little better then before the surgery and the prayers of RSN remain with him.

We also got some good news about Jed Lowrie. He was found to have the dreaded "kissing disease" - Mono. While yes, mono can have serious complications, the feelings are that he will recover.

http://www.especially-balloons.co.u

I wish them both well!

New gig for a former pitcher....

While he hasn't officially retired - John Smoltz has a new gig!

boston.com

It was announced today that Smoltz will join the announcing teams on TBS and MLB Network. He will announce national games on TBS and the Braves games on Peachtree.TV in Atlanta. He was asked if he was "retired" and he said that nothing was official, but he did indicate that he does not have an interest in coaching. Good luck to him!

And a little bit of football news!

It was announced today who two of the teams are that will be playing on Thanksgiving Day. The Detroit Lions will be playing who?

Turkey and football - doesn't get any better!

Oh - and before I forget.....

May you have:
A world of wishes at your command
God and his angels close at hand
Friends and family their love impart,
And Irish blessings in you heart.

Hey Mikey!

2010-03-15T23:26:03Z

Guess who played first base for the Red Sox on Monday in their game against the Orioles?

http://swamigp.files.wordpress.com

We like it! Hey Mikey! In his first game of the Spring, Lowell went 1 for 2 with a single his first time at bat. It is a position that he hasn't played since 1998 when he was in Triple A ball with the Yankees. The players and fans a like were happy to see him. Provided he wakes up feeling well he will play again in the game on Tuesday. I wish him nothing BUT the best!!

http://ladiesdotdotdot.files.com

The monkey is off his back. Big Papi hit his first HR of Spring Training! Both he and Josh Reddick hit two run blasts in the 8-4 lost to the O's. Tim Wakefield had a tough day. He gave up 5 runs on 9 hits over 3 2/3 innings. While he didn't walk anyone, he did hit two batters. Yea - the knuckleball was not under control today. But we all know that can be the case when Wake pitches. I, for one, am SO not worried about him! Who I am worried about are these guys.....

http://www.tristarproductions.com/

The news about Red Sox prospect Ryan Westmoreland seemed to get a little worse today. He is scheduled to have his brain surgery on Tuesday. ESPN is reporting today that the malformation is in his brain stem which, if true, would not only complicate the procedure but could also leave severe neurological damage. I hope the ESPN reports are wrong. Prayers to Ryan and his family. And prayers need to be sent out to another member of the Red Sox organization.....

herald.com

Terry Francona admitted yesterday that Jed Lowrie was away from the team for medical tests. He complained of being "totally exhausted" and he felt like he had been "hit by a truck". A stress test is also being administered to him for the team trainers noted that he had an accelerated heartbeat. There were no specific details on what tests had been ordered for him - other then the stress test - and it is not known when he will rejoin the team. I wish him nothing but the best. He and Ryan are much to young to have such serious health issues.

Let's Try This....

2010-03-14T22:22:13Z

http://www.wesleyjsmith.com

Sometimes you just don't want to hear the news any more.....

http://lowellspinners.com

He looks like the picture of health doesn't he? On Tuesday morning, 19 year old Ryan Westmoreland, a top prospect for the Red Sox, will enter the Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix for brain surgery. He was diagnosed with a rare vascular irregularity called Cavernous Malformation. They say it isn't cancer - but it could be life threatening. My thoughts and prayers - and I'm sure the thoughts and prayers of ALL of RSN - go out to him and his family. Once again we are reminded - baseball is nothing more then a game.

Guess who is hurt and can't pitch again?

http://www.bronxbanterblog.com

At the beginning of training camp it was a sore back. And now? A sore neck. Really? The Red Sox are all but certain that he will start the season on the DL. (Anyone else glad that we have Tim Wakefield on the roster??) The concern is that the pain is on the right side of Dice-K's neck - close to his shoulder. You know - I have a thought..how about if we give him one of these....

http://www.thefurniture.com

Maybe a good nights sleep is all he needs.

In Saturday's game against the Pirates, the nine players who are expected to start on Opening Day were all in the lineup. Ellsbury, Pedey, V-Mart, Youk, Big Papi, Drew, Beltre, Cameron and Scutaro. And how were they? What is the word I am looking for...

http://captionwit.com

Embarrassing

2 hits through 6 innings. Against the Pirates? (Sorry Pirates' fans!) I know there are still 21 days until Opening Day - but boys..you really need to do better then that. And speaking of doing better....

http://mrmodified23..com

1-for-16, 2 walks, 5 strikeouts. I do keep chanting that it is ONLY Spring Training but Theo, do me a favor - don't trade this guy....

http://cdn.picapp.com/

Please!

It's Over!!

2010-03-13T22:12:35Z

http://www.britannica.com

I survived my Fantasy Baseball draft!! (Maybe I should have bought the book!)

While the Red Sox were beating the Pittsburgh Pirates 3-2 (Really? Only 3-2? With the lineup they had I expected a LOT more then 2 hits through 6 innings!) I was participating in my second-ever Fantasy Baseball draft! That's right - the MLB Bloggers league is back for a second season of fun and competition. This season there are 19 of us playing and this morning we had our draft..all 38 rounds of it! (There are NOT a lot of players left in the later rounds, in case you were wondering....) My team "Julia's Ranters" (okay - my co-owner TRUSTED me to do the draft myself - what WAS Mike thinking??) is ready to compete! So how did I do?

I had a minor computer hiccup - my laptop frozen - and a player was "auto selected" for me and I had a bit of a brain freeze and picked a player who maybe headed to the DL for the season. (Seriously - the 90 seconds to pick seems like 3 seconds at times!) My team for the season?

Jeff Clement - C
Casey Kotchman -1st
Brian Roberts - 2nd
Kevin Youkilis - 1st & 3rd
Alexei Ramirez - Short
Delwyn Young - 2nd, RF
Brett Wallace, 3rd
Jerry Hairston, LF, 3rd, SS
Mike Cameron - CF
Kyle Banks - RF
Ben Francisco - LF, CF
Jeremey Hermida - RF, LF
Josh Anderson - CF, RF, LF
Reed Johnson - CF
Alfredo Amezaga - CF
Pat Burrell - DH
Lyle Overbay - 1st
Ronny Paulino - C
Ian Desmond - Short
Mike Carp - 1st
Alex Cora - Short

Pitchers:

Carl Pavano
Boof Bonser
Kyle Farnsworth
Jeremy Accardo
Kelvim Escobar
Justin Lehr
Michael Bowden
Matt Harrison
Eddie Bonine
Josh Beckett
John Lackey
Justin Masterson
Luke Hochevar
Joe Nathan
Brandon League
Phil Coke
Grant Balfour

http://www.blogohblog.com

Is my team a winner? I have no clue! I think it isn't too bad....we'll see. I need to setup my team correctly each day and my guys have to stay healthy and PRODUCE!!! My goal? To win one more game then a certain Yankee Blogger I know! ;-)

http://www.spiritmag.com

Be kind in your critic of my team and wish me luck!!!

Tragedy averted

2010-03-11T23:53:29Z

http://www.swing-smarter-baseball-hitting-drills.com

When will Major League Baseball finally do something about maple bats? Or bats in general that seem to break and splinter too easily? It happened again on Tuesday during the Red Sox - TB Rays game. In the second inning Adrian Beltre's bat shattered and a piece of it flew back and hit Rays starting pitcher David Price in the right hand. He was taken from the game, hand wrapped in a towel, but fortunately x-rays were negative and he just had a hand contusion. A tragedy was averted - this time. But what about the next time? MLB has had some discussions about banning maple bats in the minors, but I'm not sure that is enough. Are the powers-to-be waiting for someone to be badly injured before they do anything?

http://www.bellaorganizing4u.com

Hmmm....looks a bit like Buddy don't you think?

boston.com

On Wednesday John Lackey had his second outing of the spring for the Red Sox and he has yet to give up a run. Against the Mets (yea...JBay's new team....) he threw three shut out innings; allowing only 3 hits. Oh and Jason Bay? He was 0-2 before he was lifted after a 30 minute rain delay. The Red Sox won the game by a score of 8-2. About a half hour before the game the Mets announced that their shortstop Jose Reyes will most likely start the season on the DL as his doctors figure out the best course of treatment for his thyroid condition. The Mets spring seems to be starting out the same way their last season ended; with players on the DL. They will also start the season without Carlos Beltran - he is on the DL recovering from knee surgery. I wish both these gentlemen well.

http://kylepdiddy.files.wordpress.com

I also wish the father of our Captain well. Jason Varitek missed five days of training camp to spend time with his mother as they deal with his dad's illness. Throughout the rest of the spring Tek will travel to his family home in Orlando as often as he can. The thoughts and prayers of RSN are with him and his family.

Nomar!

2010-03-10T14:29:28Z

http://www.esquire.com

Nomar Garciaparra has resigned with the Red Sox!!! Okay, a one day minor league contract - but he will get his wish...he will retire with as a member of the Red Sox. And you know what? I like it! NOMAH will retire with a .313 batting average, 229 HRs and 936 RBIs. He will retire with the team where he began his career 14 years ago.

http://www.sportsofboston.com

The Red Sox selected Nomar in the first round in the 1994 draft. He made his debut with the Sox in late 1996 and in 1997, his first full year in the majors, he won the American League Rookie of the Year honors by hitting .306 with a .342 OBP, .534 slugging, 30 HR and 22 stolen bases. He went on to spend parts of nine seasons with the Sox, hitting .323 with a .370 OBP, .553 slugging and .923 OPS. He was selected to 5 All-Star teams while with the Red Sox, and he ranks fourth in franchise history in batting average, fifth in slugging and sixth in OPS. He won back-to-back batting titles in 1999 and 2000, hitting .357 and .372, - becoming the first right-handed hitter to win consecutive batting titles since Joe DiMaggio in 1939-40. None to shabby.

And then 2004 arrived...July even...and we all remembered what happened. At the end of the 2003 season no contract could be agreed upon. The Red Sox THOUGHT they were going to get A-Rod (Oh thank God we didn't!). It was a "he said..no he said" time. Nomar went from being the face of the Red Sox to being the scapegoat. The person the fans loved to hate. Injuries were mounting and just before the trade deadline in 2004 he was shipped out of town in a move that set us up to win our first World Series in 86 years. Was THAT trade the reason we won the WS? I don't know. Maybe yes, maybe no.

boston.com

But now we come full circle. In an incredibly classy move by the Red Sox, Nomar will retire as one of our own. The way he always wanted it to be. He loved playing for the Red Sox and always intended to play his whole career with us. There was a time when his numbers had so many of us thinking Hall of Fame. Injuries ended that dream. But nothing can take away the memories we members of RSN have of our NOMAH!!! After baseball he will go on to work for ESPN, but he will forever be known as a retired Red Sox. Thank you Nomar for all you did for us - I wish you nothing but the best.

boston.com

Welcome Home Nomar! Welcome home!

The Old Guy did Good!!

2010-03-10T00:17:54Z

bostonherald.com

30 pitches - 22 for strikes. Only two hits; both singles. No walks. Three shutout innings. Spring training ERA of 0.00. I LOVE Tim Wakefield!! Please, oh PLEASE, can't we name him as the 5th starter?? The Red Sox on Tuesday beat the Florida Marlins 9-0. Jeremy Hermida, against his former teammates, went 2-4 with a double and he got his first RBI of Spring Training. Josh Reddick had 3 hits and Yamaico Navarro had 2. The Red Sox as a team combined for 13 hits and the 8 pitchers we used did not walk a batter. All in all, a great Tuesday afternoon for the home-town team!

boston.com

Of course Josh Beckett had his own great day on Monday against the St. Louis Cardinals. Three perfect innings - 34 pitches, 24 strikes and he did not go to a three ball count until the final batter he faced. But perhaps more important is that Beckett seems to becoming comfortable with Victor Martinez behind the plate. We all know his displeasure with a change in catchers last season - yes the man can be a bit fussy - so seeing the two build some chemistry is a VERY good thing. Beckett was reported as saying on a scale of 1-10 he is a 7 on his comfort level with V-Mart. MUCH better then the 2 he gave their relationship last season.

http://www.bronxbanterblog.com

This guy on the other hand is still about 10 days away from pitching a game. Dice-K is suffering from what is being called a "mild back strain" and it is almost certain that he will start the season on the DL. Anyone else glad we have Wakefield on staff? I know the Red Sox say they will start the season with just a 4 man rotation - the schedule allows for that - but I am pulling for Wakefield to get some starts.

Spring Training also means.....

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/

For the second year I am participating in a Fantasy Baseball League made up of my fellow MLBloggers!! There are 20 of us playing this season and we have our draft this coming Saturday. Playing one season hardly makes me an expert on Fantasy Baseball SO once again I'm asking you, my readers, for any and all advice you wish to impart. Thanks in advance for your help! I need it.....my goal? To come in ahead of some Yankee blogger that I know! (Just don't tell Scott! )

A baseball poem for the day.....

I was teaching in second grade today and shockingly - to help teach them about Acrostic Poems we wrote one about.....THE RED SOX!!! The students worked very hard on it and I told them that I would post it on my blog for them...

R ocks
E xpert base running
D epressing to the Yankees

S uper
O utstanding
X citing

I have promised them that the next time I am in class we will write some more Acrostic Poems about...the Yankees (this is the class that torments their Yankee-loving Spanish teacher!), Fenway Park and the Green Monster. Stay tuned for more poems!

For Some it is More then a Game

2010-03-07T23:06:13Z

http://upload.wikimedia.org

Scott Atchison has played for the Florida Marlins and the San Francisco Giants in the Majors. He has played for the Hanshin Tigers in Japan for the last two years. Before he left for Japan the Red Sox signed him and have spent the last two years scouting him. Now? He has a one year deal with the team and a chance to win a spot in the bullpen. So what changed his mind? The lure of millions? The opportunity to play for the greatest team in all of baseball? (Hey - this IS a Red Sox blog!) No - it is a much more personal reason that has caused him to try and make it again in the majors.

boston.com

His daughter.

Callie is 2 years old and she was born with a rare genetic disorder called thrombocytopenia-absent radius or TAR. Patients with TAR typically have a very low platelet count and they are born without the radius bone in their arms. (The radius is the bone that is on the inside of the arm, running from the elbow to the thumb-side of the wrist.)

When Callie was born, both her arms were very short, but no one thought to look for anything else. But a quick thinking nurse practitioner notice that little Callie had bruising and bleeding under her skin and thought it might be something more. So tests were run. A normal platelet count, those special blood cells that help blood to clot, should be between 150,000-300,000. Callie's was 6,000. She immediately had her first 5 blood transfusions. She had her last transfusion on December 20, 2007. And her last platelet count put her count over 200,000. While that portion of her condition seems to be under control, she has undergone surgery to try and help her hands.

http://www.coverbrowser.com

The lack of radius bones has caused Callie's wrist and hands to be deformed and she doesn't have use of her thumbs. With specialized care and theraphy and surgery the Atchisons' hope that she will have an improved quality of life. There is also some concerns over whether she has kneecaps. And Atchison was playing baseball a 13 hour flight away from the hospital that was caring for his daughter in Texas. So he made the decision that all too many parents have to make...you do whatever is necessary for the well being of your child.

http://www.salem-news.com

Flash forward to spring training 2010. There are no guarantees for Atchison. He is trying to find a spot in a very crowded bullpen. He knows he will have to work hard, but all he wants is a chance. A chance to make a team and a chance for his daughter to have a good life. Something all parents want.

And it is stories like this that should remind us fans that baseball players are just "people" also. They have families and they have problems like the rest of us. Yes, they are fortunate enough to have the talent to make a living playing a child's game - but at the end of the day they are just "dad" when they go home. They are people with feelings and hopes and dreams. And we fans should remember that.....

http://cmmonthly.com

when we are quick to boo or call the players names. Yes, there are a few players who do things that bring the wrath of fans upon them - but can't we fans respond to that behavior without resorting to childish behavior? You won't see name calling on this blog - at least not from me. I fail to see the purpose of it. And those who call players names that I can't even print on this family friendly blog? What's the point! Our teams all have their rivals - do you really think I will ever like the New York Yankees? Heck no - but I don't hate - not the players at least. And maybe more fans should try that. Should there really be room for hate in baseball? After all, the player you could be hating might just be a dad who is doing nothing more then trying to make a better life for his family. I have no idea if Scott Atchison will make the team - but I wish he and his wife well. They have a long road ahead of them.

And I need to send out prayers and best wishes to Marc Savard of the Boston Bruins.

boston.com

In the Bruins game on Sunday, Savard was knocked unconscious from an elbow to the head that was thrown by Matt Cooke of the Pittsburgh Penguins. The shot by Cooke was a blindside hit - Savard never show it coming. The Bruins announced after the game that Savard has a concussion and it is not known when he will return to the game. No penalty was called - none of the refs saw it. I suspect the Bruins will appeal to the league and we will have to wait and see if the NHL will hand down any suspension. Hockey is a rough game - no question - but players can NOT be allowed to get anyway with cheap hits.

Saturday Roundup 3/6/10

2010-03-06T18:00:18Z

I've got some preseason news and other ramblings from Boston...

1. boston.com

As outings go - it wasn't the best one for John Lester. In one inning on Friday he threw 33 pitches allowing 4 runs on three hits and he walked two. And he came close to getting pulled. So much for his first outing of the season. Tim Wakefield, on the other hand, had a great outing! He threw two scoreless innings and allowed only 1 hit. Of course our offense didn't help - they could only manage 5 hits off of 8 different pitchers...let's be glad it's just the preseason.

2. boston.com

Saturday, however, was a good day for John Lackey. In two innings he faced 6 batters and he retired them all. This was the first start he made for a team other then the Angels but he downplayed it; it is the preseason after all! Saturday was a split squad day for the Red Sox. Behind the good effort of Lackey, the Red Sox beat the Twins 9-3 and they took a 2-1 lead in the race for the Mayor's Cup. Tug Hulett - brought in to pitch hit for David Ortiz in the 7th - hit a three run blast. Big Papi is off to a slow start - in three ABs in the game on Saturday he was 0-3 and he left 7 runners on base....sigh....please keep Mikey, Theo - PLEASE!!!

In the other game against the Tampa Bay Rays, it was tied at 4 a piece going into the 9th when Justin Ruggiano hit a two runner homer off of Red Sox pitcher Kris Johnson and the Red Sox went on to lose the game 6-4. Felix Doubront looked good in his first outing for the Red Sox. He threw two scoreless innings, while allowing not hits, one walk and he struck out Carl Crawford, Ben Zobrist and Pat Burrell.

On Sunday the Red Sox will take on the Orioles at 1:05 with Clay Buchholz taking the mound and Casey Kelly scheduled to come in in relief. The Sox are hoping to improve upon their 2-2 record.

3. http://blogs.wickedlocal.com

Why do I feel I need to break out the rocking chairs for my C's? This week the average age of the team went up when the Celtics acquired 37 year-old Michael Finley after he was waved by the Spurs. Yes he is a proven shooter off the bench - but he is also coming off an ankle injury that has only allowed him to play 25 games this season. I trust that the C's know what they are doing, but this is one move that does make me go hmmmmmm... Also, I'd like to send out prayers and well wishes to Rodney Stuckey of the Detroit Pistons. He slumped unconscious last night during the game against the Cavs in Cleveland. The game was suspended for 12 minutes while he was loaded onto a stretcher and taken to the Cleveland Clinic where he remains.

4. http://thunderpodcast.com

Yea...I know...he plays for THEM - but I don't like seeing anyone get hurt. Francisco Cervelli, on his 24th birthday, was hit in the head by a fastball thrown by Toronto Blue Jays' pitcher Zech Zinicola. He was taken to the hospital and was released before the end of the Yankees 9-1 lost to the Jays. He has a concussion and will be seeing a neurologist on Monday. I send thoughts and prayers to him for a speedy and complete recovery.

5. boston.com

Happy 240th!! On March 5th some pint-sized Red Coats reenacted the Boston Massacre and the trial that followed here in Boston. The "Massacre" was one of the last events leading up the "Shot Heard 'Round the World" and the American Revolution. To learn more about the Boston Massacre you can Click Here.

Did that really happen?

2010-03-04T01:41:52Z

Did I dream it or did it really happen? Did he......

/kylepdiddy.files.wordpress.com

actually throw someone out at second? Okay - it was a kid from Boston College but HEY he actually threw him out! And he got a hit! Tek did have me worried when he struck out to end the first inning - but it was all good! And what made it good was that we actually had some RED SOX BASEBALL TODAY!!!

Yes I know - it was just a couple of exhibition games against two colleges from Boston but you've got to admit - it was great to see the boys take the field again. It was comforting to see this...

Barry Chin/Globe Staff

Big Papi hit a home run in the first game against Northeastern!!! It's not June and he has an HR!! Yes, there was some rust on the boys, but after almost 5 months it was awesome just to see them take the field. The "real" games begin tomorrow - we take on the Twins and begin the defense of the Mayor's Cup - but it was great to see them playing as a team. Most of the pitchers only lasted an inning - don't want anyone to get hurt - and by time the game was half over I really felt like I need a score card - I didn't know who most of the guys on the field were. But that didn't stop me from enjoying the games! I followed the Northeastern game online. And the Boston College game? Doesn't get any better then having these guys call it....

boston.com

After all the health problems that Jerry Remy had last season, it was wonderful to hear him tonight. He sounded as good as ever and the interplay between him and Don Orsillo is just the best! They make you feel like they are old friends who are coming into your living room. We Red Sox fans are spoiled - we have the best announcers hands down.

posted on YouTube by CarlySimonWebsite

Without a doubt the Red Sox have more work to do before they will be ready for opening day - but ready they will be! They will not disappoint - at the end of day on April 4th - or in the wee hours of April 5th - the Red Sox will be 1-0! Just don't tell Scott! ;-)

As if having baseball to watch wasn't good enough.......

I was selected in the second chance drawing to try and purchase tickets to Red Sox-Yankees games and I made it through the virtual waiting room and got tickets!!! I have 2 tickets for the May 7th game and 2 tickets for the October 1st game. They seats are only in the bleachers but I haven't been to a Red Sox-Yankees game since I was in college! I can NOT wait! My only problem? Deciding who I will take....any suggestions? ;-)

http://cdn.bleacherreport.com

GO RED SOX!!

Stop me if you've heard this one....

2010-03-02T13:39:10Z

Guess who most likely won't be ready to start the season?

http://www.whomadeyoumirabelli.com

Well - at least this season he TOLD us....sigh... I have a thought for Theo and Tito - how about if you just name Tim Wakefield as the 5th starter now and get it over with....PLEASE!! I know - when he is on, Dice-K can be very good, but can we all handle another season of heart-attacking inducing pitching? Of barely making it out of the 5th inning? Of walking so many runners? I beg you Tito - do not forget that you have Wakefield there and ready to pitch!

Since I'm on a role about pitching - did you know this? The Red Sox have 3 pitchers in their rotation who have all won the deciding game in the World Series? All before they were 25?

http://www.yoursportsmemorabilia.co

Jon Lester was 23 when he pitched game 4 of the 2007 WS. He pitched 5 2/3 shutout innings, allowing three hits and walked three while striking out three. He was the winning pitcher in the Red Sox' 4-3 clincher over the Rockies in Coors Field in Colorado.

http://www.eteamz.com

Josh Beckett was 23 when he pitched in game 6 of the 2003 WS for the Marlins at Yankees Stadium. He pitched a five-hit shutout, beating the Yankees 2-0, and was named the WS MVP. At the age of 23 years 5 months and 10 days he was the youngest pitcher to win a deciding WS game since Brett Saberhagen did it in 1985.

http://www.pittbull-media.com

John Lackey had just turn 24 when he started game 7 of the 2002 WS for the LA Angles against the Giants. He went 5 innings, giving up just one run on four hits and he struck out four. He became the first rookie starter to win the seventh game of the WS since Babe Adams beat the Tigers for Pittsburgh in 1909.

And all of these guys are in the prime - or close to prime - of their careers and they all play for what team Scott? ;-) Throw in Clay Buchholz, Tim Wakefield and, okay, Dice-K, and really - does any team have a better starting rotation then the Red Sox? I think not.

And not that Red Sox fans need anything to help get them excited about the first preseason games tomorrow - but what the heck - ENJOY!!

posted on YouTube by WMGILG

GO RED SOX!!!!

It's what we've been waiting for.....

2010-03-01T20:57:37Z

Lineups!!!!

Red Sox vs. Northeastern

1. Jacoby Ellsbury, LF
2. Bill Hall, 3B
3. Victor Martinez, C
4. David Ortiz, DH
5. Jed Lowrie, SS
6. Lars Anderson, 1B
7. Darnell McDonald, RF
8. Che-Hsuan Lin, CF
9. Gil Velazquez, 2B
SP -- Casey Kelly

Red Sox vs. Boston College

1. Marco Scutaro, SS
2. Dustin Pedroia, 2B
3. Kevin Youkilis, 1B
4. Adrian Beltre, 3B
5. Jason Varitek, C
6. Jeremy Hermida, LF
7. Tug Hulett, DH
8. Josh Reddick, RF
9. Ryan Kalish, CF
SP -- Boof Bonser

Yea...preseason game against a couple of colleges..but we have gone months without lineups!! I can't tell you how excited I was when I saw them posted. It made it all seem real....

boston.com

WE HAVE BASEBALL!!

The second of the two preseason games on Wednesday is being televised on NESN at 6pm....any guesses where I'll be?? ;-) While I love seeing the old familiar faces, I'm glad there are going to be a some of the new guys playing that game. I don't know a whole lot about Boof (got to love the name!) and Tug and it will be nice to see what Beltre and Scutaro have. I know - it's just the first pre-season games but come on - aren't you excited to see them play? Admit it - you've missed baseball! The Olympics where a great bridge from football but it is time. So dust off the gloves, get out those baseball hats and get ready. Hmmm...maybe I should cook some of these for dinner Wednesday night.....

http://farm2.static.flickr.com

GAME ON!!

The torch has been passed

2010-03-01T00:13:12Z

http://www.crashthecrease.com

Did you miss it?

If you didn't see the gold medal game in the men's hockey tourney in the Olympics - USA vs Canada - you missed one of the BEST hockey games ever! With 24 seconds left in the 3rd period, Team USA tied the game at 2. Team Canada went on to win the game in OT, but for a team that wasn't expected to finish any higher then 5th, Team USA has nothing to be ashamed of! They - all of the athletes from the United States - did us proud and gave us a sense of unity - made us stand up a little taller as we said with a collective voice - "I am an American and proud of it!" Congrats to all of them - and to all the athletes of the world. Maybe the spirit in which the games were played will carry over into our everyday lives and we might find a way to make our world a little more peaceful.

And tonight the Olympic flame will be extinguished, to be lit again in 2 years in London for the 2012 Summer Olympics. So what are we to do until then?

http://www.robertxgillis.com

How about if we play some baseball??

In 2 days, 16 hours, 51 minutes and 3 seconds from now the Red Sox will have their first preseason game. On Wednesday March 3rd they have a split squad series - against Northeastern University in the afternoon and against Boston College at night. And you know what? The college kids don't really care that they will most likely lose - badly! They get a chance to play against their idols! And that is all that matters. Top Red Sox prospect Casey Kelly is pitching the first game. And the second game?

The game that is going to be televised?

That's right! WE HAVE RED SOX BASEBALL ON TV!!! At 6:05pm on NESN we will see Boof Bonser take the mound for the Red Sox and we will hear the Rem-Dawg and Donny-O call the play-by-play! Does life get better then that? Okay, it gets better when we can beat these guys....

http://www.anniemayhem.com

Which we will do on April 4th! Just don't tell Scott! ;-)

But after 4 months with no MLB baseball the day has finally arrived - we have games to watch! And soon we will begin the 162 game regular season. We will hear the "Oh it's okay..it's still early in the season" many times over - and then we will quickly realize that the season isn't as long as we think it is and that every game really does count. Whether it is played in April or in September. The long nights of the west coast swings will leave us sleep deprived...groggy and cranky the next morning. We will celebrate each victory and we will agonize over each lose - worrying about the "shouldof, wouldof, couldofs". We will follow the scores of the teams in our division - and compare our team to them and others across the league.

http://www.eereblogs.energy.gov

Our spirits will soar when our team is #1 and we will feel deflated when they are not. But it all begins with that first preseason game...and I for one can't wait! Did someone say....